A “DEVOTED” dad-of-two was crushed to death by a car in a freak accident, an inquest heard.

Mechanic Daniel Burton, 27, was repairing his partner’s dad’s Audi A3 when an axle stand slipped.

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His neighbours desperately tried to free him after he was discovered trapped under the vehicle in Port Talbot, South Wales.

Tragically, Daniel couldn’t be saved, with his cause of death given as traumatic asphyxiation – also known as “crush asphyxiation”.

An inquest heard the dad-of-two’s partner Abbie had begged him not to do work on the car himself as it was a “big job” and dark outside.

But Daniel, who was about to pass his MOT testers course, decided to do the work on the Audi himself.

He was later spotted by a passer-by lying on his back with his torso and head under the car and his legs stuck out.

The onlooker thought the car looked unsafe but decided not to say anything as she did not think the mechanic would appreciate her opinion, the court heard.

Another woman then stopped to ask Daniel if he had seen her stolen car but when he did not respond she raised the alarm.

A neighbour rushed over and tried to use a jack to lift the car before emergency crews arrived.

Daniel was sadly declared dead at the scene in January this year.

Police launched a probe and discovered a jack and one axle stand lying on its side underneath the car.

Another axle stand was still in its box, the court was told.

Coroner Colin Phillips recorded a conclusion of accidental death at the inquest in Swansea.

He said qualified mechanic Daniel was working on his car when the axle slipped due to the sloped street.

After it tipped on its side, the mechanic was trapped underneath the vehicle.

Paying his condolences to Daniel’s family, Mr Phillips added: “He was very much loved and will be sorely missed and I hope you get a degree of closure now.”

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